Carl Irving Levin, a 31-year-old officer with the Harker Heights Police Department, was killed on August 7, 1978 while investigating a suspicious person in an arson inquiry. He encountered the suspect near North Amy Lane and East Valley Road; as he stepped out of his patrol car the suspect shot him point blank in the left temple with a .25 caliber pistol. Officer Levin was found dead minutes later, still clutching his duty weapon.

The suspect, Thomas Andy Barefoot, was identified and arrested, charged with capital murder, and later executed for the crime on October 30, 1984. Levin’s name appears on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. and the Texas Peace Officers Memorial in Austin, and a city park in Harker Heights was named in his honor.

If anyone knew Officer Levin, witnessed activity near North Amy Lane and East Valley Road that day, or has additional information about the scene, please share what is known.